Two bugs

Two bugs

Two guests from my garden that are not so welcome. They are pests of my plants…

Pest on eggplant

These are pictures of a pest on Brinjal or Eggplant- Coccinellid beetle (Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata). These bugs eat away the green portions resulting in the skeletonizing and drying of the leaves. The bugs are of 5-6 mm in size. They are also named as ’28-spotted potato ladybird’.

Now certain bugs on Curry leaf plants.
These appear to be new entrants as I have never seen them before! These pictures show the larvae and adult of Tortoise Beetle (Silana farinose) that damage the plants by skeletonizing the leaves. The bug may be 5-6 mm long.

Larvae have a deceptive shape. The globose structure is the poo carried by the larvae, mostly to scare away the enemies!

Nicely captured, Indira! The first one looks like a hairy ladybug but I’m sure it’s more destructive. Right now my garden is infested with Japanese beetles and they are really doing a number on the plants! It’s fascinating to watch these little creatures but sad to see all the damage they can do.